Tower of Terror wedding theme for two grooms

Anthony, a nurse, and Mark, a banker, are avid Disneyland fans who often frequent the parks, as well as the Disney cruise line with their son, Greyson. So it’s fitting that when it came time to plan their nuptials, The Tower of Terror, based on the fictional Hollywood Tower Hotel “constructed in 1929,” had to play a role.

Anthony and Mark’s Tower of Terror engagement photos at Castle Green in Pasadena, California, and their subsequent wedding transformed The Ebell of Los Angeles into the infamous Hollywood Tower Hotel. This theme set the tone for the couple’s spooky fall wedding full of juicy details, exciting surprises and immersive experiences for their intimate guest list.

WEDDING VENUE

Tucked away right off of Wilshire Boulevard in The Miracle Mile district is The Ebell of Los Angeles. With three levels and 75,000 square feet, this Renaissance-inspired structure is a noted architectural treasure and a registered National Historic Landmark.

The Dining Room includes a small stage drenched in burgundy, velvet curtains perfect for creating a star-studded Old Hollywood atmosphere. This stage became the elevator facade of The Hollywood Tower Hotel.

PHOTO BOOTH

The stage was built out with a gilded elevator created and hand-painted by Paper Moon Shoppe. The couple surprised their guests with a grand entrance through the double elevator doors, cascading with fog as they entered, then transitioned into a fully immersive photobooth for guests to enjoy as they walked up the stairs, entered the “elevator” and proceeded to fall into the Twilight Zone.

STATIONERY

Gilded Swan Paperie, the go-to source for custom vintage-inspired wedding invitations and stationery, built a complete suite that was used through the engagement shoot and then, later, wedding day to breathe life into the alternative universe we had created, step by step. The crafted stationery included custom save-the-dates, invitations, wax seals, a crest featuring the couple’s initials, as well as skeleton key tags, luggage tags, do-not-disturb hotel room tags and letterhead with calligraphy by SophScript Co.

With a custom illustration of The Hollywood Tower Hotel, first painted on canvas and then converted to digital by famed artist, Dale Sizer, the imagery of our tower slowly but powerfully emerged. Our version of the tower, with warmer tones of plum, burgundy and port created a color story that was warmer than the original, cooler-toned facade.

FASHION

The grooms were outfitted in tuxedos by Friar Tux. Actors were hired to play hote bellhops and wore custom bellhop costumes created by Anthony’s mother. Male grooming and SPFX makeup by Diamond Beauty Hair & Makeup.

IMMERSIVE ENTERTAINMENT

Thespians, adorned in costume, portrayed the check-in desk management as guests checked into the hotel and were handed their room key (seating assignment), bellhops fumbled with luggage, and socialite guests of the hotel interacted with wedding guests. Mixing and mingling with guests, the actors provided witty banter and entertainment during cocktail hour.

When it was time to enter the dining room for dinner, violinist, Ben Hoyt, led guests down a long, spooky hallway all while engaging them with live music.